Landry’s snare sets tone for victory

Landry’s snare sets tone for victory

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Blessed with a pair of hands that measure 101/2 inches in length, LSU sophomore Jarvis Landry often wows teammates with highlight-reel one-handed catches on the practice field.

A national TV audience got a piece of the action Friday afternoon.

Late in the first half of LSU’s 20-13 victory over Arkansas at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium, with the Tigers nursing a three-point lead, Landry leaped above linebacker Otha Peters in the back of the end zone and snared Zach Mettenberger’s 22-yard, third-and-8 pass with his right hand.

Falling to the turf on his right shoulder, Landry managed to keep hold of the ball and stay in bounds to give LSU a 10-0 lead.

“That ought to be on ESPN’s Top 10 for sure,” Mettenberger said.

“If it’s not, I’m going to write a letter to the people up in Bristol, (Conn.).”

A game LSU often controlled took many turns over the final 30 minutes, reaching its climatic end when Arkansas senior Tyler Wilson threw incomplete into the north end zone as time expired.

But the play that had Twitter abuzz was the one that shown on the CBS broadcast ad nauseum.

The one Landry’s coach and teammates described as typical Landry.

“That’s the kind of catch he makes routinely,” LSU coach Les Miles said.

“Special guy.”

Mettenberger shrugged when asked how Landry skied to cap a nine-play, 76-yard drive that provided the day’s first touchdown.

“Y’all aren’t at practice, so you don’t know, but he makes a ridiculous catch like that every day,” he said.

Landry finished LSU’s regular-season finale with a team-high eight catches for 75 yards. The touchdown grab was his fourth of the season.

“It was high and behind me, so I couldn’t extend with two hands,” Landry said. “So I just trusted my ability. Zach trusted my ability, giving me an opportunity. I just went up and made a play. It’s just one of those things I can do really well and that I’ve always done. It didn’t really amaze me.”

The signature moment of Landry’s still-young career was set up in part by a personal foul against the Arkansas sideline.

With the Tigers facing third-and-4 from the 39, LSU’s sideline called a timeout just before a flag was thrown against the Tigers for delay of game. During the timeout, Arkansas was penalized 15 yards to extend the possession.

Three plays later, the Tigers again faced third down.

Landry said the play Mettenberger called was one the Tigers worked on during the two weeks leading up to the Alabama game Nov. 3.

“It’s just a play for me to read the safeties,” he said. “Try to find a spot to get open.”

In making perhaps the best catch of the season by an LSU receiver, Landry went above and beyond the route’s responsibilities.